Pita Ririnui played for the Manukau rugby league club in Auckland from 1938 to 1947 and represented Auckland from 1938 to 1945 as well as Auckland Māori from 1938 to 1945 and New Zealand Māori in 1947. He was also selected for New Zealand for the 1939 tour of England. Ririnui had previously played rugby union for the Huimai and Rangataua clubs in the Bay of Plenty as well as representative rugby union for the Tauranga sub-union representative side, Tauranga Māori, Bay of Plenty Māori, Tairawhiti Māori, and the Poverty Bay-East Coast-Bay of Plenty combined side against the touring South African side in 1937.
Early life Pita Ririnui was born in Tauranga on October 10, 1912. His parents were Moihi Moses Ririnui (1879-1951) and Purangi Te Keeti Ngawaka (1875-1970). He had nine siblings, they were: Te Ra Taratoa Ririnui (1908-1991), Rangiwhakairi Ririnui (1910-?), Hoete Mick Ririnui (1911-1949), Te Whetu Star Ririnui (1915-2004), Te Hirau Boy Ririnui (1917-1994), Rita Ririnui (1917-1980), Urupiki Mary Ririnui (1925-1988), Walter Te Rurku Ririnui (?-1946), and Haki Jack Ririnui (?-?).
Playing career Rugby union 1930 Huimai, Tauranga, and Ngāi Te Rangi (Tauranga Maori) Pita Ririnui began his rugby union senior grade career when he debuted for the Huimai senior side aged 17 on May 10, 1930. They were playing Cadets Old Boys in the Jordan Cup competition in Tauranga. He played in the second row, likely in a lock position in a 12–0 win. The following week he played in the same position against Athletics. Huimai won 14–6 with Ririnui scoring a try. It came when “several Huimai forwards charged through for Ririnui to score” which gave them an 11–0 lead. Soon after “short thrusts headed by Honiara, Keno, and P. Ririnui enabled Huimai to reach the south-eastern angle...”. His next game for Huimai was against Te Puna on May 24 at the High School Reserve in a 19–5 win.
Ririnui was then selected during the week in a Tauranga Trial match to help the selectors choose the team to play Thames on Kings Birthday. He was chosen in the second row of the Probables side with A Borell, Ike Tangitu, and R. Ngatai. His side won the match 14 to 13. Following the game he was named in the second row of the Tauranga side for the representative match alongside Honiana, C. Cameron, and N. Leslie. Tauranga won the match played in Thames by 16 points to 6. In comments on the game the Bay of Plenty Times wrote that Ririnui and Duke Ngatai “were in every forward movement, and fully earned their place”. He returned to his club side for a 10–6 loss to Cadets Old Boys on June 7 and at one stage “led a forward movement to the” centre of the field with Honiana.
Ririnui was selected for the Tauranga side again to play against Te Puke on June 14 for the Hurinui Apanui Shield. The match was played at Tauranga, with the visitors winning 6-3. During the first half “Ngatai, Leslie, and Ririnui forced their way through in the thick and the ball rolled across for Johnstone [Te Puke] to force”. Ririnui was back for Huimai against Athletics on June 21 in an 18–6 win. Late in the match Ririnui joined in a break which took them to the try line and from a scrum they kicked a drop goal to finish the scoring.
He was selected once more for the Tauranga side to play against Rangitaiki on July 5 at Matata. Tauranga won 14–11 with the Bay of Plenty Times commenting that “in O. Broad, Ririnui, R. Ngatai, and W. Ngahoe we have four promising young forwards, and although not quite up to Shield forward knowledge and initiative it will not be long before they are”. Ririnui then played for Huimai in the final of the Jordan Cup which they won 11–5 against Cadets Old Boys on July 12 at the Tauranga Domain. It was their first ever season in the competition. Early in the game he was part of a group of players who “broke through in a dribbling movement...”, then some time later when Huimai was under pressure “the Huimai vanguard – led by Ngahoe and Ririnui – replied attractively” and took play to the other end. Early in the second half “Ririnui was conspicuous in the lineout work” then “smart work by Ririnui and J. Ngatai saw them” gain the advantage. Ririnui was involved in another forward passing movement and then near the end of the game a “combined effort” which nearly resulted in points.
During the week Ririnui was chosen in a ‘Native’ side to play the ‘Europeans’ at the Tauranga Domain on July 19. The Māori side was also named Ngāi Te Rangi (the local iwi) and they lost a close game 22-18. In the first half Ngahoe, Ririnui, and Nepia gained possession and reached the opposing try line but the ball was cleared. At halftime Ririnui was replaced as the selectors wanted to try out other players before selecting the Māori team to play Maniapoto for the Ratana Cup. Following the game he was named in the side for the July 24 match at Tauranga Domain. In a change of position thus far in his senior career he was named in the five eighths alongside B. Ngahoe. They lost 18 to 5 to Maniapoto-Tainui who were the holders of the Cup. Ririnui was at second five eighth.
In a Gilbey Cup game for Huimai against Athletics the following weekend “Ririnui broke away and was racing for the line when Wilkinson loomed up and checked the speedy forward”. Huimai won 14 to 3. Ririnui was selected for Tauranga to play Rangitaiki on August 9. The match finished 3–3 with Ririnui in the second row of the scrum. He was chosen in their next game against Whakatane on August 16 for the Hurinui Apanui Shield which Whakatane were the holders of. Once again Ririnui was in the second row and Tauranga won the shield with a 16–3 win. Ririnui was then selected in the Bay of Plenty 19 man representative squad to prepare for a game against Te Kuiti but ultimately did not make the final team. He was however chosen in the playing side for Tauranga's next match against Taupo on August 30 at Tauranga Domain. The match was a defence of the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield. Tauranga won 11-7 and during the first half “Ririnui pounced on top of him [a Taupo back] in a twinkling and sent the ball to Phelan to Tassell, who made a great sprint and was bordered out in the south-eastern angle”. A short time later “Ririnui, Haua and Tangitu broke away from the ruck...”. The following weekend Ririnui played for Tauranga once more in a game against Te Puke. The match was for the Parata Cup with Tauranga winning 11-3 and he was named to play in their following match against Rangitaiki on September 13. During the week on Wednesday though he played for Ngāi Te Rangi once more against Maniapoto in Tauranga. The match was for the Ratana Cup. Ririnui was in the second row for Ngāi Te Rangi (Tauranga Māori) who won 11-3. Then for Tauranga 3 days later he played in their 12–6 win over Rangitaiki. By winning they defended the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield. In the second half “Ririnui secured and brushed several men aside and cleared” when they had been under pressure.
Ririnui's final two games of his first season in senior rugby were for Tauranga against Taupo which they won 12 to 11 to retain the Parata Cup on September 20. While his final game was for Tauranga against Apanui for the Te Hurinui-Apanui Memorial Shield. Tauranga won 22-15, and during the first half “Heke made a rare opening and cut through and sent to Ririnui, who brushed past several opponents and sent the ball to Tangitu, who scored brilliantly”. Then in the second half “Mountfort, Leslie, and Ririnui led a bunched movement and made things very merry for the challengers...”. At the end of the season Ririnui was part of a complimentary dinner which was held for the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield holders team at the Masonic Hotel. He was also requested to be at Randell's for a team photo for his Huimai club side in mid October.
1931 Huimai, Tauranga, and Tauranga Māori Ririnui once again turned out for the Huimai club in Tauranga competition in 1931. He began the season playing in games for Huimai against Mount Maunganui on May 2, Te Puna on May 9, and Te Puna again on May 23. He was then selected to play for Tauranga Māori against Tauranga Pākehā on May 30. The match was to act as a trial for the Tauranga team to play Thames on King's Birthday. Ririnui played for Huimai in a 16–6 win over Mount Maunganui the following weekend. He played another club match on June 20 when they lost to Matakana. In a 13–8 loss to Cadets on June 27 a Ririnui scored a try but as there were several Ririnui's in the team it was unclear if it was Pita. After the match he was selected in a Tauranga trial match. In the meantime he played for Huimai v Athletic on July 4 in a 19–8 loss.
Ririnui was chosen in the Tauranga reserves for their match against Thames in July 11. He was named in the starting side for Tauranga against Te Puke the following weekend for the Parata Cup but ultimately did not play. He did however play on August 8 for Tauranga in their match with Te Puke. They lost the Parata Cup match 16–11 with Ririnui playing well in the second row. In the first half Ngahoe, Cameron, and Ririnui “dribbled into the twenty-five and hard forward play ensured...”. Then a while later Ririnui and Mansel “were conspicuous in a forward maneuver” that put pressure on Te Puke. Later in the half when they were defended Ririnui cleared the ball. And again he “kicked clear and followed up but Cleary saved brilliantly” for their opponents. In the second half Ririnui and Ngahoe combined splendidly and the home forwards delivered an attack in front of the visitors’ goal”. With the score 16–8 against them “Ririnui beat several opponents and crossed over, but could not touch down. Polley, however, was handy, and touched down” to narrow the score by 3. Following the game he was named to play once more for Tauranga in a August 15 match against Matamata. At Tauranga Domain, Matamata won 23 to 11. In the first half “the home forwards charged across, P. Ririnui and Mansel leading...”. Later when they were well behind Ririnui “made an opening and passed to Ainsley”, with a defender getting offside and Tauranga missing the penalty kick. Ririnui was named in a Tauranga trial match in the A Teams on September 5 in preparation for their final game of the season against Te Puke. Ririnui was selected in the side which was for the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield on September 12. Tauranga lost the match 8–6 with the only mention of Ririnui being that he won the ball from a lineout in the second half.
1932 Rangataua Club, Tauranga, and Tauranga Māori In 1932 Ririnui played club rugby for a newly former club named Rangataua. There was relatively little coverage of games in the Bay of Plenty Times newspaper during the season. He played in games against Athletics, Te Puna, and Cadets on April 30, May 7, and May 14. They won the match with Cadets 12 to 3, and then lost to Matakana on May 21 by 8 points to 5.
On May 28 the club competition took a break with a Tauranga trial match played. Ririnui played for the A Team which won 22-12. In the second half “Ririnui, Cameron, and Fitzpatrick headed a forward movement but Rayment stopped the advance”. He was then named in the Tauranga side to play Hamilton Old Boys club side. On June 4 Rangataua drew with Athletics 8-8 and it was reported that he was playing in the five eighths. A Ririnui scored the game tying try but there were 4 of them in the team, P. Ririnui, T. Ririnui, M. Ririnui, and W. Ririnui. During the following week it was reported that T Moiri and P Ririnui had been ordered to attend the next meeting of the management committee regarding the alleged assault of a referee in a game on April 26 which would have been at the very start of the season. Following the hearing it was decided “that P. Ririnui be cautioned for swearing on the field with a proviso that he will be very severely dealt with in the event of a repetition”. Rangataua then lost their next match against Te Puna on June 18 at the high school reserve.